Epping Forest

Epping Forest's population grew in the 10 years leading up to 2011. Data from the census show there were changes in housing tenure, religion and work life.

The population passed 120,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Epping Forest increased by 3.1%, from just under 121,000 to 125,000.

The addition of just under 3,800 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Epping Forest was home to, on average, 2.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

Census 2011 data also show a housing tenure change in Epping Forest.

The percentage of households in Epping Forest that rented privately increased from 6.9% in 2001 to 11% in 2011.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) households lived in social housing, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage of Epping Forest households that owner their home decreased from 75% to 72%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.6% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Epping Forest increased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Epping Forest, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Epping Forest

The number of people in Epping Forest that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 17,000 in 2001 to about 28,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 14% to 23% of the local population.

The percentage increased by less than the average across Eastof England (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Epping Forest that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 88,000 in 2001 to about 77,000 in 2011 (from 72% to 62%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just under 8,800 to just under 9,400 (from 7.2% to 7.5%).

About 4,000 people (3.1%) said they were Jewish, up from about 3,700 in 2001 (3.2%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Epping Forest increased by 8.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Epping Forest by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Epping Forest working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Epping Forest decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Epping Forest, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Epping Forest residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.4% to 4.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of Epping Forest residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Epping Forest decreased by 2.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Epping Forest, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Epping Forest

The number of people in Epping Forest from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 3,400 in 2001 to about 5,900 in 2011. This represents a change from 2.8% to 4.8% of the local population.

The percentage increased at a similar rate to the average across Eastof England (from 2.8% to 5.0%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 5.2% to 8.0%).

The number of people in Epping Forest from the White ethnic groups remained close to 110,000 between the last two censuses (from 95% to 91% of the population). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 1,200 to about 2,600 (from 1.0% to 2.1%).

Just over 2,400 people (0.8%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 990 in 2001 (1.9%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Epping Forest increased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Epping Forest by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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